SEWAGE FARM

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20989, 18 October 1933, Page 6

SEWAGE FARM

REPORT TO DRAINAGE BOARD UNFAIR CRITICISM ALLEGED Because of criticisms of the state of affairs at the sewage farm of the Christchurch Drainage Board the farm committee of the board was instructed to submit a comprehensive report on the farm, and the report was before the board at its meeting last night, and was adopted. Mr It. Carter, who had criticised the .state of affairs at the farm, objected that the report was not a comprehensive one, but his motion to refer the report back to the committee failed to obtain a seconder. The committee, after an inspection of the farm, reported as follows: Paddocks—The area under irrigation is generally in excellent order and the growth of grass good. Docks are present in fairly large numbers in some of the older pastures, and an endeavour is being made to eliminate these, without recourse to ploughing and resowing. Carriers and Effluent Drains—The carriers and effluent drains are well maintained and generally in good condition. Minor repairs are necessary in some instances. Septic Tanks—The settling tanks adjoining the septic tanks are in process of being cleaned out. For this work a power-driven crane, which has been lying idle at the pumping station for some years, is being employed, and is giving very satisfactory results. Tree Planting and Plantations—Tree planting has been carried out fairly extensively during the last two or three years, and good results have been obtained. Some of the trees in the older plantations have reached maturity and require to be removed in the near future to prevent damage to main carriers and other works.

Buildings—Dwellings and outbuildings are generally in a good state of preservation, and have been well maintained. Provision has been made on the current year's estimates for painting some of them and the work will be carried out as opportunity arises. Grazing—On the occasion of the visit by the committee, more than 400 head of cattle were grazing on the irrigation area. Income from this source has been gradually increasing. The receipts for the year ended March 31 amounted to £lOls 4s, and from April 1. 1933, to September 30, 1933, £453 7s—a total of £1468 lis for the last 18 months.

Mr W. J. Walter, the chairman of the committee, in proposing the adoption of the report, regretted that Mr R. Carter had been unable to accompany the committee on its inspection. Management of Farm. Mr Carter moved that the report be referred back for a comprehensive report. The report, he said, did not cover the management of the farm. There were too many heads running the place. The schedule of tree planting, as agreed upon by the board, had been altered. There were willow and poplar pests in the boundary fences. The trees had not been properly planted; he was sure that 80 per cent. were dead and others were looking pretty sick. Some of the carriers were not in good repair, and docks and hemlock were being cut down but not uprooted. Three head of cattle had been lost through poisoning by eating hemlock. Grazing was not done in proper rotation; the cattle followed the water instead of the water following the cattle. The motion was not seconded. Unfair Criticism Alleged. Mr H. G. Livingstone said that he thought that Mr Carter had been very unfair in his criticism of the management and condition of the farm. The more the farm was examined the more he was satisfied that it had never been run under better conditions. The condition of the septic tank and of the earners was a matter for the engineer; it was absolute nonsense to associate them with the management of the farm. He did not think that there was any reason for the pin-pricking complaints of Mr Carter. Mr E. H. S. Hamilton suggested that expert opinion should be obtained regarding the rotational grazing of the cattle. Mr Livingstone said that the system referred to by Mr Carter was 'being followed at present. The Main Consideration. The chairman (Mr J. W. Beanland) said that the engineer had just handed him a memorandum stating that the nrst consideration was the purification of the sewage and that the grazing of cattle was of secondary importance. _ Mr Walter said that much that Mr Carter had said was correct, especially about the cutting of docks and hemlock, and about willow and poplar posts in the boundary fence. He hoped that next year Mr Carter would be Dut on the farm committee. The chairman (to Mr Walter*: Do you approve of this report? Mr Walter: I approve of it. The chairman: It is your report, and 1 always like a man to stand bv his report. The report was adopted.